Magnesium Bicarbonate – The Ultimate Mitochondrial Cocktail

There are good reasons many believe that there is nothing in mainstream medicine that addresses de-acidification, detoxification, fixing nutritional deficiencies, modulating and boosting the immune system, and increasing full body circulation. Medical science has failed in its attempts at curing degenerative, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases. Without removing toxins and acids from all organs, cells and tissues, and without providing the essential nutritional building blocks like magnesium, the body will not be able to heal completely.

Unless a treatment actually removes acid toxins from the body and increases oxygen, water, and nutrients most medical interventions come to naught. With most allopathic medicines themselves being mitochondrial poisons, what happens is that they often change the symptom picture that then almost always drives disorders into a deeper chronic state. When the body’s tissues and cells become too acidic in conjunction with mitochondrial deficiency we set the stage for tissue inflammation and degeneration as we become breeding grounds for anaerobic pathogens.

It is time for allopathic medicine to understand that viruses, bacteria and fungi all thrive in acid conditions. Why is this so hard for orthodox doctors to understand? Tissues and cells are like factories with furnace mitochondria everywhere and everything gets very dirty with acid wastes that have to be cleared away every millisecond we are alive. There is no way around the reality that metabolism creates acid waste that can accumulate quite rapidly under the right conditions.

Increased oxidative stress, which correlates almost exponentially with ph changes into the acidic, is especially dangerous to the mitochondria, which suffer the greatest under oxidative duress.

Many in the alternative health field believe that there is not one drug on the market that reduces the acidity of the body or addresses any king of nutritional deficiency. This is not true! There happens to be two exceptional medicines that are excellent in addressing most of the issues mentioned above. Magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate are both considered medicines in their injectable forms and both provide almost immediate relief to physiological disturbances.

Patients receiving sodium bicarbonate achieved urine pH’sof 6.5 as opposed to 5.6 with those receiving sodium chloride.This alkalinization is theorized to have a protective effect againstthe formation of free-radicals that may cause nephropathy.4- Dr. Michael Metro

One of the fundamental approaches to medicine has to be the alkalinization of the body so it can dispose acids from our cells tissues, and organs. We can do this in many ways but often doctors have to do this in quick ways in emergency situations. Other times, when we have cooperative patients we can use food as medicines and accomplish things gradually with time.

The most powerful alkalizing foods on the planet are the ones that are highest in chlorophyll. In Magnesium Medicine, my third magnesium book due out soon, is a chapter called TheLamp of Life and it’s about the central role that magnesium has in life. It is also the central atom in the chlorophyll molecule. Without magnesium, without chlorophyll, life simply does not exist.

You just can’t beat the cell-restoring potential of green foods such as wheat, barley, kamut, alfalfa, and oat grasses along with spirulina and chlorella. These foods are all high in magnesium and act readily as food medicines. They are thousands of times more powerful than ordinary green vegetables, because they are super concentrated in chlorophyll, alkaline minerals, rare trace minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, and enzymes. My favourite has always been spirulina and I include it in all my protocols.

Though I believe in the power of raw food diets and healing medical approaches like the Gerson Diet, today we need exceptionally powerful medicinal medicines that are not really medicines in the way we normally think of medicines. Both sodium bicarbonate and magnesium chloride are common items that when not injected are considered foods safe for consumption. Luckily for everyone these two substances are affective for chronic and acute disorders when used orally and transdermally; we do not need to go to the emergency room for injections.

This chapter is specifically about the dynamics of using these two substances together. They offer a combination therapy that is natural, effective and safe and can be used readily with other protocol items, medicines and healing processes. Add some sun (vitamin D), iodine, ALA and Vitamin C and we will go a long way of helping the pharmaceutical giants to an early grave.

Magnesium bicarbonate is a complex hydrated salt that exists only in water under specific conditions. The magnesium ion is Mg2+, and the bicarbonate ion is HCO3-. So, magnesium bicarbonate must have two bicarbonate ions: Mg (HCO3)2. Magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate taken at full strength with water at slightly separated times are an ideal way to supply magnesium ions and bicarbonate ions to body cells.

Magnesium and bicarbonate rich mineral waters are easily absorbed and have many health benefits.

Likewise, in small doses, the two together make up an ideal treatment system for distilled and reverse osmosis water.[1] Adding these two substances to taste not only will remineralise highly processed water but will provide the body with a constant supply of the ultimate mitochondrial cocktail. Good drinking water would contain approximately 125 mg of magnesium and 650 mg of bicarbonate per litre.[2]When consumed together magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate work very well together to combat basic physiological problems.

When our tissues become too acidic and lacking in magnesium necessary for ATP production cellular metabolism drops off and this can lead to obesity and diabetes.

Few clinicians are aware how these two substances work to enhance each other – they are mutually reinforcing because magnesium functions as a bicarbonate co-transporter into cells. And bicarbonate acts as a transporter of magnesium into the mitochondria. Magnesium influx is linked with bicarbonate transport according to the Dietary Reference Intakes guide from the Institute of Medicine. Magnesium transport into or out of cells requires the presence of carrier-mediated transport systems (Gunther, 1003; Romani et al., 1993).[3] ATPase reaction has a broad pH optimum centering on neutral pH, with little significant activity above pH9.0 or below pH5.5.[4] Thus anything that moves us from overall acid conditions toward alkaline that recover the neutral zone is going to enhance cell metabolism via mitochondrial optimization.

It was actually the dedicated work of Dr Russell Beckett, a veterinarian with a PhD in biochemical pathology that paved the way to understand the significance of bicarbonate acting in conjunction with magnesium. He has formulated Unique Water which, it has been asserted, slowed the ageing process and increased the length of life of humans and other mammals and could be used to treat all inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Unique Water is water containing magnesium bicarbonate at an alkaline pH value. Dr. Beckett’s theoretical and experimental research has resulted in the understanding how important both of bicarbonate and magnesium ions are in human physiology and how they work together to optimize human health and the ability to recover from disease.

Bicarbonate ions working alongside magnesium would naturally create the conditions for increased glucose transport across cell plasma membranes. Bicarbonate ions without doubt create the alkaline conditions for maintaining the enzyme activity of pancreatic secretions in the intestines. Bicarbonate neutralize acid conditions required for inflammatory reactions hence sodium bicarbonate would be of benefit in the treatment of a range of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. An excellent research group called Agua G is studying the overall benefits of bicarbonate in human physiology.

Magnesium does not readily reach the mitochondrion, but if plenty of bicarbonate is available the bicarbonate will act as transport into the mitochondrion. The only problem is that the few magnesium bicarbonate products that are almost impossible to find for sale are expensive compared to using magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate individually. It is possible to make one’s own magnesium bicarbonate.[7] This chapter does not make a strong recommendation for you to go out and buy magnesium bicarbonate or even make it yourself as directed in this last footnote. A person gets much more control over both bicarbonate and magnesium physiology when magnesium is taken in its chloride form and the bicarbonate is taken as sodium bicarbonate. When using magnesium chloride for oral consumption you must use the highest quality sources.[8] Sea water evaporation magnesium oils are not appropriate for this type of application.

The bicarbonate buffer system occurs in both intra- and extracellular fluids. It consists of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). If a strong acid is present, it reacts with sodium bicarbonate to produce carbonic acid and sodium chloride, minimizing the increasing concentration of hydrogen ions. If a strong base is present, it reacts with carbonic acid, producing sodium bicarbonate and water, minimizing the alkaline shift.

Highly alkaline water with magnesium, bicarbonate, calcium and potassium increases pH significantly in the body.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a ubiquitous metalloenzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration/dehydration of carbon dioxide. Carbonic anhydrase enzyme is ever-present in body cells and constitutes up to ten percent of the soluble protein in most body cells. It is one of the fastest enzymes known: each carbonic anhydrase enzyme produces from ten thousand to one million acid groups (H+) per second. The acid (H+) produced by carbonic anhydrase enzyme is pumped by proton pump enzymes into cell organelles such as lysosomes, phagosomes, endosomes and ruffled membranes.

In red blood cells (rbcs), CA is the second most abundant protein to haemoglobin and plays a crucial role in CO2 transport. More specifically, rbc CA catalyzes the hydration of CO2 to HCO3– at the tissue site of production, and the dehydration of HCO –3 to CO2 at the respiratory surface, thereby facilitating the transport and excretion of CO2 from the body.[9] In addition, rbc CA also facilitates the linkage of O2 and CO2 transport via the Bohr effect.[10] Carbonic anhydrase speeds the reaction of carbon dioxide and water. This reaction produces carbonic acid, which quickly dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions.

Bicarbonate ion concentrations decrease the formation of acid by carbonic anhydrase enzyme (Le Chatelier’s principle). In the presence of magnesium and bicarbonate ions, less acid is produced by carbonic anhydrase enzyme.[11] But studies with partially purified carbonic anhydrase from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts show that the effect was the result of the chloride ion and not the magnesium ion. Enzyme activity was reduced 50% upon addition of 3 to 10 millimolar MgCl2 or KCl while all additions of MgSO4 between 0.3 and 10 millimolar were mildly stimulatory.[12]

Excess acid accumulation leads to oxygen deprivation and thus cell fermentation. Acid conditions lead to cell rot, another term for cancer.

This reaffirms my long standing belief that magnesium chloride is the absolute best form of magnesium for, among many reasons; the very important chloride ion is supplied. Chloride physiology is just one more basic that is being addressed. It is important because we see reduced acid through reduced carbonic anhydrase enzyme action. Chloride is required to produce a large quantity of gastric acid each day and is also needed to stimulate starch-digesting enzymes.

Using other magnesium salts is less advantageous because these have to be converted into chlorides in the body anyway. We may use magnesium as oxide or carbonate but then we need to produce additional hydrochloric acid to absorb them. Many aging individuals, especially with chronic diseases who desperately need more magnesium, cannot produce sufficient hydrochloric acid; and then they cannot absorb the oxide or carbonate.

Dr. David Brownstein importantly tells us, “Chloride and bromine compete for reabsorption in the kidneys. When there is a decreased amount of chloride in the body (which is common in low-salt diets), less bromine will be excreted from the kidneys resulting in elevated bromine levels. Increasing the amount of chloride in the diet will allow the kidneys to release more bromine into the urine for excretion.” Bromide is a huge problem today and both Dr. Brownstein and I have written books on Iodine, which again bring in the salt question. Iodine gets its way into almost any medical protocol today and combines perfectly with magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. (I recently received a note from Dr. Brownstein – “Loved your iodine book. Great piece of work! Can’t wait for your next book.”)

We are at a very interesting level of biology and physiology when we talk about bicarbonate, magnesium, and chloride ions. And even sodium in the sodium part of bicarbonate is absolutely essential to human health. As we mentioned in another chapter sodium bicarbonate as well as citrate and phosphate salts do not raise blood pressure to the same extent as do the corresponding amounts of sodium chloride. A study on mineral water containing sodium bicarbonate has confirmed the absence of any effect on blood pressure in elderly individuals.[13]

This is an updated chapter from my book.

Sodium itself is needed for many functions of the body. Its main function is in providing the balancing of fluids in the body. Sodium is necessary for life and a deficiency can result in often life threatening conditions such as dehydration, heart palpitations, and muscle cramping all of which can rapidly progress to more dangerous situations if left untreated. So sodium bicarbonate is a good way of getting the essential salt we need. Most of the salt that is consumed in the world is not any good anyway, it is salt with the minerals all stripped out and that goes for sea salt as well as mined processed salt. Salt is a very important subject. It is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure – in conjunction with water. For more information read Dr. David Brownstein’s book SALT – Your Way to Health.

Sodium bicarbonate is known to decrease serum concentration of ionized magnesium ([Mg2+]) when sodium bicarbonate is added to neonatal serum in vitro. The addition of sodium bicarbonate causes a significant decrease in [Mg2+]. From this in vitro study we speculate that fast infusion of sodium bicarbonate in human neonates may potentially cause a clinically significant decrease in serum [Mg2+].[14]

Where would the magnesium go but into the cells and bones where most magnesium reserves are found? Higher pH levels and the bicarbonate itself will help the magnesium leave the blood serum driving Mg2+ into the cells where again the bicarbonate will carry it from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria where, in cases of chronic disease, it is desperately needed. Thus magnesium and bicarbonate, when used together, would considerably increase the energy production in body cells.

Mg2+ is critical for all of the energetics of the cells because it is absolutely required that Mg2+ be bound by ATP the central high energy compound of the body.- Dr. Boyd Haley

Magnesium bicarbonate decreases the production of acid from carbon dioxide in body cells. Magnesium and bicarbonate would at the same time increase energy in several ways. First, magnesium bicarbonate protects the natural organic and inorganic phosphate buffers in the cytoplasm of cells. Second, magnesium bicarbonate neutralizes the acid produced as a result of metabolic processes and ATP hydrolysis. This allows more ATP to be hydrolyzed; that is, more energy can be utilized.

Magnesium bicarbonate buffers the mitochondria in body cells from excess acid concentrations which improves mitochondrial function and allows more ATP to be produced. When more ATP can be hydrolyzed and more ATP can be produced, body cells have sufficient energy for optimum function.

ATP without Mg2+ bound cannot create the energy normally used by specific enzymes of the body to make protein, DNA, RNA, transport sodium or potassium or calcium in and out of cells. ATP without enough Mg2+ is non-functional and leads to cell death.- Dr. Boyd Haley

Dr Seeger and Dr Budwig in Germany have shown that cancer is mainly the result of a faulty energy metabolism in the powerhouses of the cells – the mitochondria. ATP and most of the enzymes involved in the production of energy require magnesium. A healthy cell has high magnesium and low calcium levels. The problem that comes with low magnesium (Mg) levels is the calcium builds up inside the cells while energy production decreases as the mitochondria gradually calcify. Thus taking magnesium chloride and sodium bicarbonate together is ideal for cellular environments turned acidic and calcified.

Magnesium ions constitute the physiologically active magnesium in the body; they are not attached to other substances and are free to join in biochemical body processes.[17]

There is no way one can address in this chapter all the possibilities and the medical power one can achieve when combining magnesium chloride with sodium bicarbonate. Whether one has heart or neurological disease, diabetes, cancer or a bad case of the flu taking these substances together offer doctors and patients safe and effective treatment.

So deep are the protective, buffering and neutralizing properties of bicarbonate that it is used even with radiation exposure to protect the kidneys and other tissues. In a world that is already overexposed to uranium oxide and mercury magnesium bicarbonate becomes even more important because mercury and uranium oxide directly attack the nuclear material and mitochondria of the cells.

The use of DU weaponry by the US, defying all international treaties, will slowly annihilate all species on Earth including the human species, and yet this country continues to do so with full knowledge of its destructive potential.- Leuren Moret

“Depleted (DU) uranium is highly toxic to humans, both chemically as a heavy metal and radiological as an alpha particle emitter, is very dangerous when taken internally,” writes Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Canadian Epidemiologist.[18] A new study, conducted by biochemist Dr. Diane Stearns at Northern Arizona University confirms that, separate from any radiation risks, cells exposed to uranium will bond with the metal chemically.[19]

The kidneys are usually the first organs to show chemicaldamage upon uranium exposure, military manuals suggestdoses or infusions of sodium bicarbonate to help alkalinize theurine if this happens. This makes the uranyl ion less kidney-toxicand promotes excretion of the nontoxic uranium-carbonate complex.The oral administration of sodium bicarbonate diminishes theseverity of the changes produced by uranium in the kidneys.[20]

Uranium and phosphate have a strong chemical affinity for each other and the DNA and Mitochondria are loaded with phosphate so uranium is a DNA and Mitochondria deep penetration bomb. The uranium is attacking on fundamental cellular levels while mercury offers a knock out punch by attacking the sulfur bonds besides being highly toxic to nerve cells. Nephrotoxicity of the kidneys with necrosis of proximal tubules has been seen to increase significantly with dual exposure to both uranium and mercury.[21]

Bicarbonate ions neutralizes carbonic acid formed in the body during metabolic processes. Several studies have shown that an increased intake of bicarbonate may help prevent muscle wasting and bone loss. Our diets are usually acid. Acids burn out our cells and causes accelerated aging. Bicarbonate is alkaline and provides the body with the extra alkalinity needed by the body to neutralize excess acidity.

The medical industrial complex has deliberately programmed generations of doctors to hold with the poor idea that using highly toxic and dangerous drugs is preferable to using vastly safer concentrated nutritional substances that make better medicines then any drug the pharmaceutical companies can fabricate. Magnesium chloride is used in emergency rooms and so is sodium bicarbonate to save lives everyday. Interesting that the medical intelligence has been lacking to combine the two and use their collective strength to even greater effect.

Emergency Room Medicines for Chronic and Acute Diseases.

Magnesium chloride, iodine and sodium bicarbonate actually replicate the biological action of prescription drugs at far less cost and with fewer side effects. They are like the primary colors on a master painter’s pallet; with the primaries one can make almost any color, or a doctor in his place could generate almost any medical effect safely and swiftly. There are other substances like these three but these are primary and impinge their benefits directly onto cell physiology in a very coordinated synergistic way.

Magnesium bicarbonate would clearly come out heads in the class of cerebral protective agents. Magnesium bicarbonate would offer significant cerebral protection with high preservation effect on neurological function following brain injury or in healing chronic impaired dysfunction like in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

When the nervous system is injured, the brain produces self-protective molecules in an attempt to halt damage. Following injury, the death of nerve cells occurs over a prolonged period of many hours or days, which provides a “window” for therapeutic intervention. Magnesium chloride is the undisputed best first therapeutic agent to be injected for stroke and is being tested in ambulances in Los Angeles.

This chapter is opening up a new door for allopathic medicine because it combines two emergency room and intensive care medicines for everyday use. My new book that lays out my conceptual designs for the future of medicine is called Principles and Practices of Natural Allopathic Medicine. Magnesium chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate are non pharmaceutical, non toxic concentrated nutritional medicinal medicines. These are backbone medicines no clinic or home medical kit should be without.

[1] Distilled water is not safe for long term use, it lacks bicarbonates and minerals and yes, it is acid forming to the body. Yet it is an excellent aid in detoxification and chelation for it purity pulls on toxicities in the body. Part of the reason why our body is acid is that it lacks enough bicarbonate necessary to neutralize the acid. Whenever the water lacks the proper bicarbonates to neutralize the water in distilled water your body basically becomes acid. Long term acidity causes acid blood, which is like acid rain, causes the calcium from the bones to be leeched out and as a result, the tissues and organ have too much of calcium clogging the system. Therefore distilled water is generally not recommended as a regular drinking water, since most of our body usually receives bicarbonates from the water we drink than from the food we eat. But we can easily treat distilled water by adding bicarbonate and magnesium and then it is not really distilled water anymore.

[7] The method consists of using one tablespoon of magnesium carbonate to be dissolved with soda water. Buy a bottle of Carbonated Seltzer water – NO SODIUM, just carbonated “fizz” water, unflavored. Refrigerate for a couple of hours. Get another, larger bottle, and pour 2/3 of a capful of PLAIN (no-flavor) Philips Milk of Magnesia (which is Magnesium Oxide, an alkaline laxative) into the large bottle. (The bottle comes with a plastic measuring cup which is what I mean when I say 2/3 capful.) Now quickly open the bottle of carbonated water (water + carbonic acid) and empty it into the large bottle containing the 2/3 capful of Magnesia. Shake well. You will have a bottle of milky/cloudy liquid which is in the process of neutralization between the carbonic acid and the magnesium oxide– leaving a neutral salt, Magnesium Bicarbonate.

[8] Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil and Bath Flakes are both pure enough for oral consumption even they are not sold for oral use.

[15] Mg2+ is critical for all of the energetics of the cells because it is absolutely required that Mg2+ be bound (chelated) by ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the central high energy compound of the body. ATP without Mg2+ bound cannot create the energy normally used by specific enzymes of the body to make protein, DNA, RNA, transport sodium or potassium or calcium in and out of cells, nor to phosphorylate proteins in response to hormone signals, etc. In fact, ATP without enough Mg2+ is non-functional and leads to cell death. Bound Mg2+ holds the triphosphate in the correct stereochemical position so that it can interact with ATP using enzymes and the Mg2+ also polarizes the phosphate backbone so that the ‘backside of the phosphorous’ is more positive and susceptible to attack by nucleophilic agents such as hydroxide ion or other negatively charged compounds. Bottom line, Mg2+ at critical concentrations is essential to life,” says Dr. Boyd Haley who asserts strongly that, “All detoxification mechanisms have as the bases of the energy required to remove a toxicant the need for Mg-ATP to drive the process. There is nothing done in the body that does not use energy and without Mg2+ this energy can neither be made nor used.” Detoxification of carcinogenic chemical poisons is essential for people want to avoid the ravages of cancer. The importance of magnesium in cancer prevention should not be underestimated.

[16] Magnesium has a central regulatory role in the cell cycle including that of affecting transphorylation and DNA synthesis, has been proposed as the controller of cell growth, rather than calcium. It is postulated that Mg++ controls the timing of spindle and chromosome cycles by changes in intracellular concentration during the cell cycle. Magnesium levels fall as cells enlarge until they reach a level that allows for spindle formation. Mg influx then causes spindle breakdown and cell division.

[19] A radioisotope of an element will bind best to the same substrates which a non-radioactive isotope of the same element will bind. Dr. Stearns has established that when cells are exposed to uranium, the uranium binds to DNA and the cells acquire mutations, triggering a whole slew of protein replication errors, some of which can lead to various cancers. Stearns’ research, published in the journals Mutagenesis and Molecular Carcinogenesis, confirms what many have suspected for some time – that uranium can damage DNA as a heavy metal, independent of its radioactive properties. The biochemical reaction of heavy metals can cause genetic mutations, which in turn can curtail cell growth and cause cancer. Heavy metals that are also radioactive amplify this effect and can cause distortions in shape and thus function even of red blood cells.

[20] A study of the acidosis, blood urea, and plasma chlorides in uranium nephritis in the dog, and the protective action of sodium bicarbonate. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 25, 693-719, Copyright, 1917, by The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research New Yorkhttp://www.jem.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/5/693

Dr.MarkSircus, Ac., OMD, DM (P)

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Comments:

Markus Thorndike

I love the idea of creating magnesium bicarbonate water, but I hate the idea of using Milk of Magnesia, it has lots of crap in it I don’t want to digest. But I can infer from the contents of the bottle that for 1 liter of carbonated water you need 3600 mg (3.6 grams) of Magnesium Hydroxide. So I bought some from Amazon, you can get it in kilograms for under $30. I also use a SodaStream, and so all of that saves me a ton of money on this and totally works.

Bekki

Would using magnesium cloride spray help the Bunyons on my toes?

Suzanne

I have followed the recipe online for MagBicarb water using MOM and seltzer. I have several questions.

1. I don’t trust the water that Schweppes or any other commercial seltzer maker uses. Probably just municipal tap water from Detroit or somewhere else equally toxic. So I’ve purchased a SodaStream to inject pure CO2 into my own filtered water. Is that a good idea?

2. As a basically healthy and active 63 yr old woman with lifelong joint problems with pain and I assume inflammation, on paleo diet….what is the right amount of this mag water to take each day? One article online said 1/2 liter. That’s not much.

3. Another online source said it was important to take this water away from food…..so 2 hours after and 1 hour before any meals. Do you agree with that? And what about lighter fare….like a 1/2 cup of green smoothie. Would the same rules apply?

4. Do you recommend also taking Sodium Bicarb or could I add it to the Mag water, if your answer is yes? I have no digestive issues or problems.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Hi Suzanne,

Dr. Sircus recommends using MagBicarb concentrate and only using the home made version if absolutely necessary as the production is different and the concentrate is much more effective. You can find some of your questions answered in our FAQ on the MagBicarb…..ica but please understand that the two formulas, our MagBicarb concentrate, and the home made magnesium bicarbonate are two different formulas and may have different reactions from each other.http://magbicarb.com/faq

We are not using the home made version so you can probably get answers on this from some other source. I can tell you that if you are healthy there should be no need to add additional sodium bicarbonate to the recipe you are making. That might throw off the chemistry. Adding in too much may cause blood pressure problems from sodium and may also cause dehydration, which can get serious. You can take it separately in times of need however. Dr. Sircus recommends drinking magnesium bicarbonate water of any type in place of all regular drinking water, and at least 4-8 glasses per day. The more the better. Away from meals is best. Soda Stream is fine to use.

Claudia French IMVA

Suzanne

HI Claudia, Thank you so much for this informative reply. IT’s helped me tremendously to know these details. I will be happily drinking my mineral water all day long and see how I do. I think that already on just the 1/2 L/day I’ve been doing that already the pain in my knees is diminishing, so I’m looking forward to even better results. blessings, suzanne

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Glad to hear this Suzanne. Thank you. Claudia French IMVA

Dani

where do I find sodium carbonate? Many thanks!

flowerpot

it is sodium Bicarbonate from the supermarket- look for one that only has sodium bicarbonate and nothing else-

Martha Bennett

To clarify: Does one add 1 Tb Mag carbonate to the seltzer water and then mix that with mag hydroxide (MOM) dose? Is mag oxide same as Mag hydroxide which is the stated listed ingredient in Phillips MOM? Thank you.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Martha, if you are making your won mag bicarbonate please re-read the recipe for home made magnesium bicarbonate and follow the directions precisely. Magnesium hydroxide is not the same as magnesium oxide. Chemically they are different which can change their actions in our body.http://www.afibbers.org/Wallerwater.pdf

Claudia French IMVA

Martha Bennett

Yes, but the recipe clearly states Phillips MOM which is Magnesium hydroxide on the bottle. This is what is confusing. MOM is not magnesium oxide.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Right Martha, MOM is magnesium hydroxide and not magnesium oxide. For this magnesium bicarbonate recipe you are to use magnesiumhydroxide (MOM) and not magnesium oxide. Claudia French IMVA

Martha Bennett

Claudia, are there other recipes posted or recommended anywhere? Thank you, Claudia, I appreciate your responses.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Martha to my knowledge this is the primary recipe for making your own magnesium bicarbonate at home. A few other recipes recommend specific brands of MOM (magnesium hydroxide) as some store brands have different formulations and contain some unwanted additives or preservatives. The MOM with the fewest additives should be used. I also understand in some countries MOM is not an allowed medication….so there I’m not sure what is used. Claudia French IMVA

Martha Bennett

Thank you Claudia, very helpful. I checked the Phillips MOM and it states free of excipients. Other generic brands do have additives, I see.

Dave_S

The confusion came from Dr. Sircus’s reference number 7 in the article above, where he specified that Phillips MoM was Mag Oxide.

Phillips MoM in Canada has BLEACH! I will not be using it and need to find a more pure source of Mag Hydroxide to make the recipe.

Martie

Has anyone ever used Dr. Sircus Baking Soda & Maple Syrup for a dog with a cancer tumor near the mouth? Thank-You

Jess

In footnote #7 above, Dr. Sircus explains the recipe for mixing Milk of Magnesia with seltzer water to make Magnesium Bicarbonate. My question: with reference to the Magbicarb concentrate (1 oz for maintenance or 4 oz for intensive use) does this recipe with the MoM equal the maintenance or intensive concentration dose level?

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

No Jess it does not equal anything compared to the MagBicarb concentrate solutions in terms of the amount to mix with water. Claudia French IMVA

Jess

Then how would one know how much to use of the MoM – made water to use? There are a lot of people using this. I am experimenting with both at present, the MoM AND the Magbicarb. The latter is very very expensive. Can Dr. Sircus provide some guidance on the amount of actual Magnesium Bicarbonate contained in the MoM recipe he gives us above?

Thank you, Claudia. Your replies are deeply appreciated and go a long ways toward helping all of us understand and better use the ideas Dr. Sircus puts forward:-)

James Staten

I have decided to make the magnesium bicarbonate solution. We have a Berky Filter will that water do , or do we need to use distilled water?. I have read different ways to make it, and there appears to be a difference in how much to mix with the water. It is suggested an ounce or two per gallon of water? Is this correct, and is there a formula for the magnesium chloride mixture. Will Magnesium Chloride flakes do. All in all healthy, little high blood pressure. So start slow and drink a little of these everyday? Thank you in advance and God Bless, James…P.S. I heard your interview on Trunews a couple of years ago about radiation and Calcium Ascorbate.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Hi James,

Its not clear what “recipe” you are talking about. I know there is one that makes magnesium bicarbonate using Milk of Magnesia and seltzer water….you can find that on the Internet. But not sure of the dosage they recommend. I haven’t heard of a recipe using mag chloride flakes. I know that when making the water Dr. Sircus uses at home, he mixes the Berkey filtered water with the MagBicab concentrate itself. We don’t have the formla for that MagBicarb concentrate as it is p;roprietary. Claudia French

A new comment was posted on Dr. Sircus – International Medical Veritas Association ——————————————————————–

James Staten (Guest): I have decided to make the magnesium bicarbonate solution. We have a Berky Filter will that water do , or do we need to use distilled water?. I have read different ways to make it, and there appears to be a difference in how much to mix with the water. It is suggested an ounce or two per gallon of water? Is this correct, and is there a formula for the magnesium chloride mixture. Will Magnesium Chloride flakes do. All in all healthy, little high blood pressure. So start slow and drink a little of these everyday? Thank you in advance and God Bless, James…P.S. I heard your interview on Trunews a couple of years ago about radiation and Calcium Ascorbate. 3:44 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 22

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Norma Hoyle

As I live rural In Australia transport of magnesium bicarbonatre water is too costly and we can no longer purchase MOM (milk of magnesia). How much magnesium oil would you use to replace the MOM (milk of magnesia), to make magnesium bicarbonate water please.

Nevada Smith

For some reason magnesium malate seems to work better for both my wife and myself than magnesium chloride but then again we take both magnesium malate and potassium bicarbonate.

Carl da Costa

I was hoping to make Magnesium Bicarbonate from Milk of Magnesia and Soda water-the recipe is simple-but can you believe that Milk of Magnesia is banned here in Australia?

Why in the world would such a harmless substance be banned? I would be interested to hear your thoughts and any alternative for making Magnesium Bicarbonate.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Yes, this just goes to show how each country determines differently what is allowed and what is not. I don’t know the AU reason for this ban. Perhaps you can find a source from magnesium hydroxide or perhaps that’s banned also. Right now we know of no alternatives to making it but doesn’t AU have Unique Water that you can purchase? This is another type of magnesium bicarbonate water.http://www.uniquewater.com.au/

bigduke

As potassium is effected by sodium intake would bathing cause potassium loss that could mimic magnesium deficiency? What is the best way to avoid this and/or correct it? Thanks

Nevada Smith

I don’t really know but it is my understanding that magnesium levels need to be adequate in order to properly absorb potassium and that a potassium rich diet is important to allow potassium into the cells as well. In other words while the amount of sodium in the diet is one consideration, a more important one is the sodium to potassium ratio or so I have read from materials provided by Larry Hobbs on YouTube.

Kellie

Hello Dr., I was diagnosed with COPD @ 3 years ago….stopped smoking 13 months ago…3 weeks ago I went to the ER feeling lightheaded and like I was going to faint….my heart rate was 160+ and they admitted me and decided I was in A-Fib….gave me lots of blood thinners and heart meds….been home @ 2 weeks now and am taking 180 mg Cardaziem, 0.25 mg Digoxin and 10 mg warfarin……I also take 1 mg Bumex and 30 mg potassium per day….I was told a few years ago that I had a mitrolvalve prolapse, but the cardio doc says it didn’t show up on the echo this time (maybe I’m to fat for them to be able to see it this time, I don’t know)….just had a sleep study done (I have apnea) and will probably be getting a c-pap machine….heart-rate is still irregular, but not to fast (between 80-100 bpm)…what do you think I should do next? Can I take magnesium and bicarb with all these meds?

sophie

Hello, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, and metastic bone cancer in 2010 ( guess surgery and chemo i had were useless-what a surprise…have refused to take tamoxifen and all pharmacuticals… I often take sodium bicarbonate baths, and being on a very limited budget, am considering for now just purchasing magnesium flakes for bath as well. Can you recommend how much of each I should use for bath purposes? Also, not clear on how to take internally….any suggestions would be greatly appreciated…Thanks!

Dol

Hi there, I have started taking Bi Carb Soda 1x teaspoon in a glass of water 2 hours after my last meal of the day. Why would my saliva PH test in the morning now be showing me more acid than before starting the Bi Carb? I was usually PH 6.7 – 7.0 and I was trying to get to PH 7.3 … now I’m PH 6.3 – 6.5 TIA

Claudia French – IMVA Staff

Dear Dol,

pH is not static meaning it changes frequently and from day to day. Body pH ususally takes about a month to adjust after attempts to alkalinize are started. Saliva pH in particular takes awhile to adjust and is very sensitive…..even the mere thought of food can cause it to change rapidly. check your pH at least twice a day and keep records for about a month to see the trend.

Joe

Hi, are there any known safety limits for oral consumption of sodium bicarbonate or magnesium chloride?

Claudia French – IMVA Staff

Hi Joe,

Yes there are safety limits with everything….and there are chapters in our books on transdermal magnesium and sodium bicarbonate titled “warnings and contraindications” which should be read by everyone.

For sodium bicarbonate you need to watch your pH so it does not go over 7.4 unless doing a specific treatment for cancer which has different parameters altogether. pH should be checked daily and the dosage adjusted accordingly. In general no more than 7 half teaspoons per day for those under age 55 and no more than three half teaspoons for those over age 55.

What is so magical about being 55? I am 66 and I want to know! Besides I have been taking a total of 4.5 teaspoons of bicarbonate a day for sometime now and see no problem. I take one teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate and o/4 tsp of sodium bicarbonate (taking them together in two divided doses of 1/2 tsp and 1/8 tsp).

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Steven, As we age our bodies metabolism begins to slow down and so with most things it takes longer for our bodies to break down the supplements and medicines we take in…..thus often these substances can accumulate in our bodies at a rate greater than in a younger person whose metabolism is faster and who can excrete excesses better. So these recommendations are given for people generally over age of 60 though that depends on our individual condition. This is a safety issue and backed up by science to reduce the chance of toxic build-ups in the elderly. .

Steven Sevek

Perhaps this would explain why I had lethargy when I started taking a half teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate twice a day. (Such could be a symptom of serum potassium levels that were a bit too high.) When this happened I stopped the potassium for a couple days and then resumed taking it but took a quarter teaspoon of sodium bicarb with the potassium bicarb to balance the two and then lowered the sodium bicarb to 1/8 teaspoon. This helped alleviate the lethargy and also decreased nighttime cramps in the feet and ankles.

http://drsircus.com/ Claudia French

Hi Steven,

Perhaps you are right . Potassium must be used with care as too much can cause problems. In the magnesium bicarbonate water recommended for regular drinking water by Dr. Sircus there is a balance of potassium and sodium bicarbonates in the product so there is less worry about these things. The amounts are balanced if used according to directions. You might consider using this instead. Sincerely, Claudia French IMVA

Can someone who is taking a low dose of blood pressure medication, specifically a calcium blocker called amlodipine besylate, consume magnesium bicarbonate water or sodium bicarbonate? Also, can they use the Ancient Minerals magnesium oil? My overall energy and health has been compromised by environmental and candida issues, which have in turn made me magnesium deficient and raised my blood pressure. I’ve not had much success with using oral magnesium due to digestive issues, but the magnesium oil and magnesium bicarbonate sound like they would really be beneficial to me.

Thank you in advance, S. Jai

Claudia French – IMVA Staff

To S. Jal

The answer to all your questions is yes. But keep a close eye on your blood pressure for using these nutritional supplements may create changes in either lowering your bp or raising it due to the sodium.

Betsy

Is there ph health and extra energy to be had from this cocktail? I am not ill, I am a runner and would like extra enery for running races. I would buy the book but have no cancer or health problem and not sure this is for me. I have been drinking 1 teaspoon Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda with water before races. Is that ok? I read it gives you enery thru oxygen. I would like to add it to my Magnesium “Calm” Powder but not sure. I would appreciate any advise. Thank you for many interesting articles!

Claudia French – IMVA Staff

Betsy,

Almost everyone is magnesium deficient. We at the IMVA believe that transdermal use of magnesium oil will keep your levels up better than any oral magnesium product. And Yes, magnesium contributes to so many functions in the body including keeping pH more alkaline. Many athletes use baking soda for increased energy. We would recommend you switch to transdermal magnesium, which can also help you recover from sore muscles and any injury you might obtain.

Dr. Sircus wrote an excellent article on Magnesium and Sports, its in the book, but you may also find it online….it is no longer on our magnesium site.

Grace

Could you give the recipe for Magnesium Bicarbonate using the Magesium Chloride? I purchased the oil, gel and flakes from Ancient Minerals. I do not see in your article how to actually use these two together. Thank you!

Claudia French – IMVA Staff

Dr. Sircus prefers that these (sodium bicarbonate and magnesium) be used separately as stated in his article. But he also says that small amounts can be added to water to taste.

My husband has atrial Fib off and on. He also has a pacemaker. He is 62 years old and in good health for his age. Would the magnesium and iodine help to keep him out of a-fib. Thank you

claudia

Reba,

Magnesium is well known for preventing and/or stopping episodes of atrial fibrillation. Your husband should make sure he keeps his magnesium levels up with the use of Ancient Minerals magnesium oil available from LL’s Magnetic Clay.

Phyllis

Will Mg(hco3)2 interfere with normal secretion of HCl for digestion?

Thank you.

Henri

My health at 63 is good, but I have an aneurysm near the aeortic valve probably caused caused by a genetically weak spot. The aneurysm (4,7cm) is stable now for nearly 5 years and I dont take any medication. Blood Pressure is ok (120/80) and total cholesterol is 191. Heart risk ratio is slightly elevated (5,1 must be lower than 5). A few weeks ago I bought your books “Magnesium Medicine” and “Sodium Carbonate” and After reading them I would ask you following questions: 1. Could the intake of Mg and sod.Bicarb. do any good for me? 2. When drinking a glas of water with a half teaspoon of Sod.Bicarb. twice a day,is it ok to spray 5 sprays of MagnesiumChloride from Ancien Minerals in it and drink it together? Many thanks

magnesiumforlife

Henri, since most of us are magnesium deficient anyhow, of course the magnesium will help you and it might strengthen the vessels with the aneurysm.

Some people make their own mixture of magnesium and bicarbonate (see the essay “The Ultimate Mitochondrial Coctail) but in general it is our recommendation that these two be consumed separately.

truth man

Don’t forget to get colloids of all the cofactors! Many aneurysms are due to a COPPER deficiency. Get co factors such as selenium, iodine, chromium and many others which are in the Youngevity products. I recommend the BTT 2.0 from Youngevity and the majestic earth liquid minerals

truth man

Aeortic aneurysms are caused by copper deficiency. Many people lack colloidal forms of copper. One product is called MesoCopper. Their MesoGold is also really good. Vitamin D helps absorption, selenium and iodine are also important for everyone.

robert toledo

I have a GFR of 25 and i started taking sodium bicarbonate 3 times a day. 650 MG. How many Mg of magnesium should I take . How do I know if these 2 are good for me.

magnesiumforlife

With a GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) of 25 you are showing kidney damage. Magnesium excess is not excreted from the body as it is with normal kidney function and excesses can build up. Work directly with your health care worker to determine the best dose for you.

Dr. Mark

Hi from Texas

As a young girl growing up my mother always had me drink about a quarter tsp of baking soda in half a glass of water for UTI’s. The result was almost immediate on relieving the symptoms. After I married, Dr.s told me that was the worst thing I could have taken and prescribed Bactrim instead. The UTI’s were the result of a congenital disorder, mainly, which I seem to have out grown, but I wonder have I caused harm to my kidneys by using the baking soda like the Dr.s claim??

magnesiumforlife

If you read through my sites, and my bicarbonate of soda book, you will find the information about sodium bicarbonate portecting the kidneys especially when there is chronic renal failure. I don’t think you have done your kidneys any harm in treating for a UTI (urinary tract infection) Problems would only arise in this instance if you took it for too long and at too high a dose. Yours was not. The side effects of antibiotics are much worse and further reaching.

Dr. Mark

Linda Hall

I am having an Angiogram on the 22nd of December – I know that there will be a contrast medium used and wondered if there is a preparation protocol and a post protocol that you might recommend to release this contrast medium. Thanking you in advance for responding to my request. Sincerely, Linda Hall

magnesiumforlife

Just make sure to take some sodium bicarbonate the morning of and for 24 hours afterwards. (or 4 times afterwards )

Also use magnesium oil lavishly before and after the angiogram. You can get Ancient Minerals Magnesium oil from LLMagneticClay http://www.magneticclay.com/

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